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Compton Abbas Aerodrome is a grass airstrip in the Dorset hills some three miles south of Shaftesbury, long known to private and training pilots for its scenic downland setting and characterful clubhouse. Owned today by film director Guy Ritchie, it combines flying instruction, warbird experience flights and general aviation traffic on a single grass runway.
Compton Abbas is a small private grass aerodrome near Shaftesbury in Dorset, holding a CAA Ordinary Licence that permits public transport flights and flying instruction. It is owned by film director Guy Ritchie, who also owns the adjoining Ashcombe Estate, and is home to a flying training operation as well as Aero Legends, which offers Supermarine Spitfire experience flights. Its elevated, scenic setting in the Dorset countryside and its grass runway make it a popular destination for visiting light aircraft pilots.
The aerodrome lies about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Shaftesbury, Dorset, in the rolling countryside around Compton Abbas village.
Compton Abbas has a single grass runway, 08/26, 2612 ft (approximately 796 m) long, with runway lighting on both directions. The field is not licensed for night use.
Compton Abbas operates an Air/Ground service on 122.7 MHz, with the callsign Compton Abbas A/G. There is no ILS or published instrument approach at the aerodrome.
Compton Abbas has a long association with private and training flying in Dorset. It was from this airfield in May 1993 that businessman Asil Nadir departed for France in a six-seater Piper Seneca as he fled to Northern Cyprus. The airfield was managed by the Hughes family for 35 years before being acquired by film director Guy Ritchie, who took over its running in February 2023.
The aerodrome holds a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P851) covering public transport flights and flying instruction, though it remains unlicensed for night operations. It hosts an active flight training facility with multiple instructors, and is also used by Aero Legends, which offers Spitfire experience flights from the site.
